Can these 'water ATMs' bring relief to thirsty India?

By Sumnima Udas, CNN

Updated 1709 GMT (0009 HKT) July 3, 2014

Water shortages in India9 photos

Water shortages in India – Residents fill drums from a water distribution tanker in New Delhi on June 16. Water shortages are a continuing problem in much of India, as around 150 million people have no access to clean water, according to government data.

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Water shortages in India9 photos

Water shortages in India – Residents wait to fill their containers from a water distribution tanker in New Delhi on June 16.

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Water shortages in India – Workers in New Delhi pull a cart carrying water bottles on June 27.

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Water shortages in India – Villagers in Surendranagar, India, use pots to collect drinking water from a man-made well on June 1.

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Water shortages in India – Students fight to get water in New Delhi on June 15.

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Water shortages in India – Politicians met with the CEO of the Delhi Jal Board on June 17 to discuss the water shortage issue in New Delhi. The Delhi Jal Board supplies potable water in the capital city.

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Water shortages in India – Activists carry pots on their heads June 13 during a protest march against power cuts and water problems in New Delhi.

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Water shortages in India – A woman offers drinking water from a well to her son in Surendranagar on June 1.

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Water shortages in India – Residents fill up their baskets with water from a tanker April 24 in New Delhi.

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Story highlights

Some 150 million Indians have no access to clean water, according to government data

Authorities are trying to make communities understand the importance of water quality

The Delhi government is setting up "water ATMs" to combat the shortages

In a New Delhi neighborhood, residents line up in the blistering 45 degree Celsius heat (113 Fahrenheit) carrying empty jerry cans and water bottles, waiting for the government water tanker truck to arrive.

'We only get water once a week and each time we have to fight for it," one woman yells.

There are no laid pipelines in unplanned areas like this, so tanker trucks are their only source of water.

With the truck arrives chaos.

Some climb to the top of the tanker truck, reaching out for the pipes. Others jostle and argue below, trying to collect every drop.

Sumnima Udas

Minor scuffles ensue. Many have been waiting for hours for their weekly supply and they are visibly angry.

Every household in this neighborhood is allowed only four jerry cans each.

"With so little water, we don't know if we should drink it, cook with it, or bathe with it," one woman says.

Water shortages are a perennial problem in much of India, but this summer the country's newly elected government is facing extra heat over water.

Some 150 million Indians have no access to clean water, according to government data.

Finding a long term solution will take time, but for now the Delhi government has finalized plans to set up 500 "water ATMs" across the city.

The tall cylindrical concrete structures hold solar powered machines that look and function like an ATM. Instead of cash, they dispense water.

The innovative idea was initiated by an Indian social enterprise called Sarvajal -- meaning water for all.

Since the pilot project was launched in late 2013, Sarvajal has installed 15 water ATM's in a New Delhi re-settlement colony called Sarva Ghera.

For one cent, one can draw up to four liters of water. That's cheap even by Indian standards.

Though response has been slow, the thousand odd families who use the services say it has made a significant difference to their lives.